Some of you may have noticed that I’ve not been around much in the last few months. And the reason? The Farrells are on the move, out of Much Wenlock and into next-door Broseley (ten minutes drive away), leaving the edge of Wenlock Edge for a new edge atop the Severn Gorge and above the world’s first cast iron bridge (1779).
In fact the Iron Bridge will be in walking distance of the new house, although maybe only on the outward foray. The Gorge is so steep, a bus ride back could well be called for. Anyway, this is what’s been going on – house selling, possessions culling, allotment retreating and finally, in the last three weeks, the hair-raising dash to find a rental property before the new owner moves in. Phew and double-phew. (Who knew that renting anywhere these days is so fraught with difficulties).
We began this whole moving process over a year ago, and it scarcely needs saying that it’s been very stressful. It’s definitely been a matter of snatching peaceful moments as and when. And of course, for gardening types, spotting signs of spring is always a welcome distraction from domestic chaos. I was busy repatriating allotment tools when I first noticed the primroses along the hedge bank beside Townsend Meadow. This was around the end of January, and I was surprised to see them flowering so early (neck and neck with the snowdrops). Clearly, unlike Mrs. Farrell, neither mind the frigid temps we’ve been having.
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Some of you may also be wondering why we’re moving when there’s no obvious necessity. On anxiety-ridden days I have been wondering this myself. But then I have long been hankering for a home with a vegetable garden attached as opposed to one a field’s walk away. Not that I won’t miss the walk, or the views above the town, or the raven that flies cronking over my polytunnel in the late afternoon, or the chats with fellow allotmenteers.
But I will be glad to leave the allotment’s dispiritingly claggy Silurian soil, the endemic pests and weeds typical of free-for-all community gardens and the outrageous numbers of snails. And of course, I am getting on a bit! I would like to nurture my soil, not do battle with it. Nor do I really want to dash across the field for the lettuce I forgot to pick earlier.
So the plan: to rent for a time in Broseley while looking for a place to buy – hopefully somewhere over Wenlock Edge into South Shropshire and closer to dear younger sibling, the hill country, and also to better functioning public transport systems.
And yes, I will be sad to leave our upstairs-downstairs garden, and Graham his custom-made, super self-built shed. We’ll also miss our quirky cottage (though not the spiders). I’m sure, too, we’re going to feel more than a touch stranded in a rented house that’s not at all our style, to say nothing of the daunting prospect of moving TWICE.
Summer garden and Graham’s peaceful place freshly built
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But then Broseley is a very fascinating old town, whose maze-like streets (jitties) of higgledly-piggledy cottages, reflect the arrival of immigrant miners way back in the 1590s when the town’s population of 5,000 was apparently much the same as today’s. The other key industry was clay pipe making, the products exported around the world, and the pipes themselves referred to as ‘Broseleys’.
Here’s a nice taster of what’s to explore from Broseley Historical Society.
Meanwhile, as the packing cases pile high in the living room, and sixteen years of covert dust alarmingly reveals itself, out in the garden, all is still wintery, the crab apple tree eaten bare and the guerrilla garden over the fence very endy.
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But then in the shady corner behind Graham’s shed there’s a small scatter of miniature crocuses. So soothing to spend a few quiet moments with them before the big move at the end of the week (with the added thrill of forecast SNOW!)
Lens-Artists: Finding Peace This week Tina’s theme could not be more apt here on Sheinton Street.
Tish Farrell 
Goodness, this is huge, Tish! It sounds wonderfully sensible and premeditated and I look forward to exploring the new domain with you. Perhaps that shed could find its way into the removal van? You will forever be associated with the Edge in my memory. Wishing you the very best of luck and that all goes smoothly. Hugs, darlin 🤗💗
Many thanks, lovely Jo. Much appreciate all those encouraging thoughts and good wishes. It does seem a BIG step, but not as big as the one you and Mick managed so well. Txx
And you’ll have lovely new histories to investigate 😁🌺
Wish you well Tish having been there, done that, got the T-shirt etc. We had 30 years in the old place and I don’t regret moving when we did but stressful? That’s an understatement! Take your time finding the right place and when you get it have fun planning the new garden (don’t forget to say goodbye to the Mcmoos).
Cheers, Brian. Thanks for the sound advice. And yes, stressful – definitely an understatement. You made me smile re McMoos. When I tell them we’re going I’m sure they will be utterly ‘unmooved’ 🙂
Nothing like an adventure to get the old creative juices flowing again.
And a veg garden of your own to look forward to.
I can vouch for the benefits of that, especially when I see the price of veggies these days.
I know you will rise to the challenge and make it loads of fun!
And soon there will be loads in new things to photograph and write about.
A very up-beat take on things, Ark. Much appreciated. I’m actually looking forward to exploring Broseley plus camera. Hope to encourage G. back to his camera too. For now gardening will be mostly in containers as the rental house only has a tiny garden. But that in itself is a challenge. And no excuses not to get back to some writing if I’m not toiling on the allotment. Either that, or we’ll see what other displacement activities I can come up with 🙂
I’m anyway impressed with your commitment to veggie growing.
There’s plenty of veggies you can grow in containers, and if you are only growing for you and G for now it shouldn’t be too difficult to provide much of what what you need for the table.
Our vegetable garden is becoming more diverse each year.
We’ve got tumeric and ginger on the go at the moment, something I haven’t grown before,
and this week I will be transplanting my first orange tree, grown from seed, would you believe, from a pot to it’s permanent home in the garden proper.
Fresh oranges in a year or two if it takes.
Oh, gosh, yes moving is so stressful. We had similar problems when selling up in Surrey to move closer to the m-i-l in Shrewsbury. Flat sold and racing around Shropshire to find a rental property was awful. And then the stress of finding the right home to buy. I could recommend Ludlow, but gardens are scarce. And those with gardens were always away from public transport. I wish you both all the very best with your move and future searches.
Many thanks, Jude. I was thinking of you as wrote the post. We have been looking at Ludlow, but the housing market is very depressed all round at present, except for new builds on massive estates along the Oteley Road in Shrewsbury, and in Telford. Also alongside the A49 south of Ludlow. Not appealing.
Oh, good luck. Exactly 9 years ago, we moved back from France, and rented a property that, though pleasant, ticked not one of our boxes. But it was only to be for six months or so while we found our feet. We’re still here, and now hoping that we’ll never be dragged away from it. This may not be your plan. But I hope you’re equally lucky in your own plans.
I remember your saying how you’d only meant to rent for 6 months, but then didn’t want to leave. We had in fact thought of moving to Broseley a while ago. Lots of intriguing properties, but it’s further away from family than Wenlock, so we’re presently telling ourselves it won’t do 🙂
Fingers crossed that the right move presents itself.
Onward to your new adventure
Beth, that’s just the way I need to think of it: an adventure. Many thanks.
Busy indeed. And I love that as we talk of peace, the flowers (primroses and crocuses stopped you for just a moment. Peace. I think you have a lot to look forward to, and a chance to think through exactly where you want to buy. A garden and shed on your own property sounds like a priority, a good one if you ask me. In the meantime, as soon as your chill leaves, you may find some surprises at your rental…for now.
I love the way you look at life, Donna. Out with the gloom! On with the joyfulness. Thank you.
Hahaha, yes, and thank you. I learned very young about accepting the new. I have moved 26 times, lol. Gardens have always been my grounding.
Heavens! 26 moves. That puts our present flit into a different perspective, though we did move twice from Africa to UK which was interesting!
Oh my Tish!!! We moved some 6 years ago after 20 years in the home we built here on Kiawah. Definitely not for the faint of heart. We also needed to rent in between so had 2 moves as well. I can only tell you that this too shall pass and finally arriving in your real home after being in a rental will be a great moment you’ll long cherish! Good luck through it all.
Many thanks for your encouraging words and good wishes, Tina. It helps to know you blazed a similar trail to good effect 🙂
A good decision by the sounds of things Tish, I always say whatever the decision, it’s the correct one for you. Moving is stressful but new horizons bloom along with new flowers 🌹
I love that vision of blooming new horizons. Thank you, Alison.
You’re welcome 😁
Oh Tish…Bless your heart. Having been there done that I can reason that every thing will work its self out in time. There is a reason my place is called Journey End farm. I hope not to ever move again but we don’t ever say what we will not do. Hang in there …Spring is a coming just in time.
And bless you back, Beverly. Lots of wise words.
It sounds like an intelligent, well thought out move. I especially applaud the concept of “public transportation.” Oh how I yearn for it! It never matter when I was younger and driving, but these days, well, I really don’t like driving. I also know what you mean about not wanting to “battle” the soil. We have terrible soil here. It’s all roots and rocks. BIG rocks.
Mostly, I’m so impressed that you got it done.
I’ll look forward to stories of your new home, pictures, new gardens, and that great, beautiful bridge!
I so appreciate your kind and encouraging comments. ‘Getting it done’ – that’s just what it feels like: necessary but v.v. challenging. Tho I’m sure we’ll be glad when it’s finally sorted.
I give you my father’s best advice: “Any crate you haven’t opened after 3 months will not be opened for the next 30 years. Dump it.”
Brilliant advice.
I have one carton that I refuse to open. It contains all my writings from work AND a lot of Garry’s tapes from work — many of which can’t be played on any known device. Garry and I talked about the box, then we put it back in the basement. Let the grandkid put it in the dumpster.
I think we all end up with boxes like that, though I’ve tried to prune contents of likely contenders. I’m thinking, too, a second pruning would be good if I can stir myself to sort through the garage packing cases over then next few months: sorting not allotmenting.
This one, I just couldn’t bring myself to toss out. It’s in ONE big box, sealed with tape — which we have not opened in 23 years. I think we decided to NEVER open it.
Huge decision but so very sensible to make it now, and to start a new adventure before you’re quite ready. Good luck with the next step – we’ll be able to swap selling, renting and buying stories this year.
PS love the thought of being within walking distance of the gorge!
That is definitely a bonus 🙂
Ah, dear Becky. I will be thinking of you.
Amidst all the hassle of moving , nature still pushes all her lovely crocuses and snowdrops for you to admire! What a lot of lovely history and adventure you have ahead of you to discover in your new town. Good luck with the move and looking forward to your continuing blogs.
Many thanks, Cora. It’s v. lovely to know you’re ‘on our team’ and following here 🙂
Best luck, Tish, for this move and especially for finding your next home. So important to be finally completely comfortable and at peace!
Many thanks, Sarah. You’ve summed things up perfectly.
All the best, Tish. A new home is like a new book, but you already know that.
Hi Thom. I love that analogy. And you know when I was writing the post and looking up about jitties, I had an unexpected whoosh of excitment/energy re Broseley’s quirky history. Which cheered me up a lot. So many stories.
Wow, a big step but one you have clearly thought through. Like you I’d be a bit daunted by the thought of moving, and especially doing so twice. I know you’ll miss this garden but I’m sure you’ll find a new one to love very soon. And meanwhile Broseley sounds an interesting place to live. I’ve never heard of it so I’ll look forward to anything you can share once settled 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. The double move is definitely daunting. But we’re hoping to leave a lot of stuff packed up in the garage. This is the plan anyway…
Hope you get a new place that you will like soon.
Many thanks, Pete.
Love that you find those little peaceful moments in the flowers. I know you will find a new place you will make yours. Looking forward to hearing about your further adventures! Moving is a big thing…but sometimes I wish we had moved one more time – just to get rid of things we do not need…Good luck with everything.
Thank you for those kind wishes, A-C. And yes, getting rid of things we don’t need. Moving certainly does that. Also I’m hoping that while renting, with lots of stuff packed up in the garage, that I can have a further cull of the packed up stuff. It’s a good notion anyway.
🙂💛
Oh my goodness, I’ve just seen this post…Well, I really hope you find the right place for you both, and that moving isn’t too much of a ‘mare… Sending my best wishes
Glad you could find peace in the middle of all that. Faced with the prospect of having to move twice in quick succession, I would probably just be paralyzed.
Thanks, I.J. It has been pretty stressful, but at least we’ve completed stage one 🙂
Moving twice is daunting, but think of all that wonderful purging you have wanted to do for ages. Best to you, and it sounds like the move is really a good thing.
Many thanks for all those good wishes, Jennie.
You’re welcome!